| The Paintball marker of today has definitely | | | | marker was the introduction of metal parts |
| come a long way since the introduction of the | | | | that could be replaced. With older plastic |
| Splat Master years ago. The term itself | | | | markers, when parts wore out, a new marker |
| "paintball marker" is relatively new. It | | | | was needed. Also the upgrade of "constant |
| tends to be more marketable then the words | | | | air" came about. Instead of using the 12gram |
| "paintball gun" to parents who have teenagers | | | | Co2 cylinder, which was good for about 15 |
| begging to get started in the sport. | | | | shots, the gun was equipped with a bracket |
| | | | that held a 12 ounce Co2 tank which was good |
| Funny though true, the first paintball | | | | for about 200 shots. |
| markers where used on cattle ranches. In a | | | | |
| large herd of cattle where cows all bare very | | | | Constant air was a real breakthrough for the |
| similar markings, it can be very hard to | | | | sport and was no doubt a huge stepping stone |
| single one out of the herd. This is where the | | | | for the next step in the paintball marker |
| paintball marker proved to be a valuable | | | | evolution, which was the semi-automatic |
| tool. This was done usually to separate a | | | | marker. Compared to the pump markers, these |
| sick animal from the herd. Once a cow had | | | | guns had an incredible rate of fire. A player |
| been marked, it was easily picked out of the | | | | with a good trigger finger could pull off |
| herd. | | | | nine shots a second! With fire power like |
| | | | that, the invention of large capacity |
| From cattle ranches to playing fields, the | | | | electric hoppers came onto the scene. These |
| sport of paintball evolved and continues to | | | | hoppers were mounted on the top of the guns |
| do so. | | | | and could hold up to 250 paintballs. They |
| | | | also were equipped with a small rotating arm |
| The Splat Master was one of the first markers | | | | inside the hopper which helped feed the |
| available. It was a pistol made totally out | | | | paintballs to keep up with the much faster |
| of plastic. It was powered by small 12 gram | | | | rate of fire. |
| Co2 cylinders and could only hold ten | | | | |
| paintballs at a time. The rate of fire was | | | | The semi-automatic marker was truly a |
| also slow due to the fact the marker first | | | | groundbreaking event for the sport, but the |
| had to be tilted back so a paintball would | | | | question still hung in the air would there |
| drop into the firing chamber. It then had to | | | | ever be full auto? |
| be cocked by pushing a button on the back of | | | | |
| the handle. | | | | That was question was soon answered with a |
| | | | paintball marker called The Angel, but what |
| Although even playing the game with this type | | | | made the Angel a real marvel is that is was |
| of marker was extremely fun, it wasn't long | | | | computerized. It was equipped with a small |
| before players wanted something better, and | | | | motherboard inside the handle of the gun. |
| they got it with the creation of the pump | | | | This allowed the user to select several modes |
| action paintball marker. The pump marker had | | | | of fire, including fully automatic. |
| a much faster rate of fire and could be | | | | |
| modified with upgrades to improve | | | | Today's markers have followed the same road |
| performance. | | | | map that the Angel laid out, and we can only |
| | | | wait to see what the next generation of |
| Another great change that came with the pump | | | | paintball markers will bring. |